Clip



. Oct. 14, 1930. E. MOREHOUSE 1,778,428

CLIP

Filed Feb. 25, 1929 v II IIllllll[IlIllllllllllllllllllllllIllIlIllllIllIIlllIllIllIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllllll'iflilllllllllll \2 I I :1 IN

6/26 0 6% 9 7 /7 if? /y ozzae A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE MOREHOUSE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO B. A. BALLOU & CO., INC, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND CLIP Application filed February 23, 1929. Serial No. 341,934.

This invention relates to an improved construction of clip and method of forming the same of sheet stock; and the object of the invention is to provide a gripping clip formed of sheet metal having a pair of spaced side arms with a connecting cross bar at one end and a central flexible cooperating gripping tongue member formed integral with the stock at one end of the side arms and extending along between them, the tongue having an enlargement arranged to engage the side arms with inherent spring tension of the stock.

A further object of the invention is in the manner of cutting the blank in outline from resilient sheet stock and piercing out portions of the stock along the opposite side edges and oneend of the blank forming side arms con- 'nected at one end by a cross bar and providing a central resilient tongue member with a T-shaped cross head. The side arms after having been formed are'bent inwardly toward each other a distance sufiicient to permit the T-head of the tongue to rest thereon and are spaced such a width as to permit the head to be passed endways thru the space between the arms for setting spring tension in the tongue and then threaded back to engage the side arms and grip the engaged article there- 7 against. I

lVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved clip.

Fig. 2 shows the clip in operative position engaging the edge of the material to be clamped.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the blank from which the clip is cut and showing the form of clip in dotted lines.

Fig. 4': shows the clip as cut from the blank.

Fig. 5 shows the clip with its side arms bent inwardly toward each other to engage the cross head of the tongue.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the clip as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view of the head of the tongue as having been passed thru the space between the side arms and bent downwardly to set spring tension in the tongue.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 5

showing the cross head of the tongue as resting upon the side arms of the clip.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 5 and showing the offsetting from the plane of the side arms that portion of the tongue which connects it to the side arms.

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating the shank of the tongue without being pierced longitudinally thru its center.

It is found in the practical use of clips of this character, of advantage to form the same of resilient fiat stock so as to take up the minimum space edgeways and to lie fiat against the article to which it is attached also one that may be made of precious metals with sufficient space on its face to receive the desired decoration and also it is desired that a clip of this character may be formed by a cutting and punching or piercing operation in which the cooperating engaging or gripping tongue may be formed from the stock within its margin so that it may be constructed with the minimum amount of waste material; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention and showing one construction by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

lVith reference to the drawings, 10 designates the body of the clip which is provided with a pair of spaced arms 11 connected across one end by the cross bar 12. A central tongue member 13 formed from the stock within the margin of the body is connected at one end 14 to the ends of the side arms opposite to their connecting cross bar 12.

This tongue member extends longitudinally between these side arms 11 and is provided with a cross head 15 which is formed integral therewith.

The tongue is of a length substantially shorter than that of the side arms to form and provide an entering mouth between the tongue and the arms.

These side arms 11 after having been first V formed straight are bent inwardly toward tween the side arms into the position illus-r trated in Fig. 7 for the purpose of setting a tension in the tongue and then the'ihea'd may be threaded baclrtolie upon the. sidearms '7 to cooperatetherewith in gripping the mate rial to be engaged between them. g In some instaiices'it s toundot advantage to offset the connecting portion 142 of the tongue upwardly from the plane of the side arms so as to permit the tongue to lie flat along the surface or the material to be gripped When several thicknesses are engaged there-by.

'Alsoin-some instances, instead of forming the central slot ,17 along the length of the tongue I may form the tongue without this slot as illustrated iiFi-g, 1 0. g 7 My improved clip is very simple, practical and inexpensive in construction and by being formed of fiat stock enables its face to be ornamented to bee-very hanc some and at tractive in appearance to be used torpersonal wear such for instance as a tie clip if desired. Alsotby being formed of springstock its may be quite effective in retaining-material placed between the tongue and the body.

Th foregoing description is directed solely towards the COIlStlllChlOll illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical chan es to which the device is susceptible, the invention. being defined and limited only by the termsof the appended claims.

I I claim: l r v l, A clip formed of sl ee't metal 1 stock stamped or cut out to term a body portion having a pair o spaced side arms with 'a connecting cross bar at one end, and an integral elongated flexible tongue member within the margin of the body and connected to the other ends of said side arms and extending along between, the said side arms and having an enlargement extending over and engaging said side arms with inherent spring tension in the stock, said side arms being inset. at the point ofengagenient with said enlargement.

2. A clip formed of sheet metal stool;

stamped or cut out to, form a body portion having a pair of elongated spaced side arms connected atone end by a cross bar, and an .integral elongated flexible tongue member within the margin of the body and-of alength less than said side arms and connected at one end to the other ends of saidside arms to lie between them, the free end of said tongue having a cross head arranged ,to lie free end of said tongue havinga cross head of a width substantially that of the space between the cross bar end, said side arms be ing inset to be engaged with pressure bysaid tongue cross head due-"to the inherent spring or" the stock. Y

i. A clip formed of siieet metal stock stamped or cut out to form a pair of elongated spaced side arms connected at one end by a cross bar, an elongated flexible tongue of a length less than that of said side arms and connec ted at' one end to the other endsof said side arms, the stockat the point of connection being raised above the plane of the side arms, said arms being inset, and theiree end of said tongue having a cross head of a width greater than said inset arms and en gaging said arms, with pressure due to, the inherent spring of the stock. 7

5. A method of forming a sheet metal clip, which consists in cutting the blank in outline from resilient sheet stock, piercing "out portionsot the stoclrv spaced inwardly from the margin of the blank and along the Iopposite side edges and one end' oi the blank forming side arms connected at one end by an end crossbar and forming a central tongue with a T -shaped head member, bending the central tongue downwardlyto impart tensioii thereto, bending the side arms inwardly suiiiciently to permit this T-hea d to rest there- 7 on but of a' widtl to permit this headto be EUGENE MOREHOUSE. 

